Should teenagers be allowed to drink alcohol just because they turn eighteen and are now legally adults? In 2009 there were over 10.8 million underage drinkers in the United States alone (Snyder). Addiction to alcohol affects millions of people in the United States. Many people say once they turn 18 they should be able to do whatever they want because they are adults who can make responsible decisions for themselves. For instance, 18 years old’s are legally able to fight for their country in wartime, cast their ballot in United States elections, register cars under their own name, enter the lottery, engage in sexual activity, get a tattoo, work full time, etc. So the question is why are 18 year old’s by law not allowed to drink? The drinking
…show more content…
Teens drink often whether it be celebrating something exciting, or mourning something. Humans periodically have an urge to drink in complicated times because alcohol is a depressant. However, alcohol temporarily slows down the central nervous system, which consist of the brain and spinal cord. “Of all the organ systems in the body, the nervous system is often the one most affected by alcohol. Alcohol causes the brain to gradually lose control of the body, meaning that one’s ability to move, think, and see becomes increasingly impaired as one drinks” (Teen Health and Alcohol). This part of the body manages the body’s movements. People do not have control over their body when their nervous system is slowed; consequently they oftentimes make choices they wish they had not made. Sadly, the slowing down of the nervous system can become permanent if alcohol is abused. In addition, drinking at an earlier age obstructs the brain development. “The human brain continues to develop into a person’s early twenties. Specifically the brain’s frontal lobes—which involve the regulation of emotion, planning, and organization—are still developing. If a person drinks alcohol before his or her twenties, the alcohol use may prevent proper brain growth and may damage memory function” (Minimum Drinking Age). By choosing to drink while under the age of 21, one is …show more content…
The poor choice of drinking all the time, could eventually lead to teens doing stupid things and making very poor choices when they are intoxicated. The first reason that the drinking age should not be lowered to 18 is because newly legal 18 year olds would provide alcohol for younger teens. Imagine if a friend just turned 18, all one has to do is ask them to buy alcohol. The friend will because he is a friend. He doesn’t need a bribe. He wants for you what he never had. “People who are newly legal often purchase alcohol for their underage friends. Surveys indicate that the most common source of alcohol for people aged eighteen to twenty is their friends who are aged twenty-one to twenty-four. Therefore, if the drinking age is lowered, an even younger segment of the population would gain easier access to alcohol” (Minimum Drinking Age). This new process would be a nightmare because the cops would arrest the underage drinker, for being caught while not of the legal age. In addition, cops would bust the legal buyer, for providing the alcohol to the underage drinkers. To add to that, teens would have a higher peer pressure exerted on them to drink. Say the legal age did change to 18, then teens would feel forced to drink by fear of not fitting in with others. “Many people fear rejection by their peers and give
Teens drink often whether it be celebrating something exciting, or mourning something. Humans periodically have an urge to drink in complicated times because alcohol is a depressant. However, alcohol temporarily slows down the central nervous system, which consist of the brain and spinal cord. “Of all the organ systems in the body, the nervous system is often the one most affected by alcohol. Alcohol causes the brain to gradually lose control of the body, meaning that one’s ability to move, think, and see becomes increasingly impaired as one drinks” (Teen Health and Alcohol). This part of the body manages the body’s movements. People do not have control over their body when their nervous system is slowed; consequently they oftentimes make choices they wish they had not made. Sadly, the slowing down of the nervous system can become permanent if alcohol is abused. In addition, drinking at an earlier age obstructs the brain development. “The human brain continues to develop into a person’s early twenties. Specifically the brain’s frontal lobes—which involve the regulation of emotion, planning, and organization—are still developing. If a person drinks alcohol before his or her twenties, the alcohol use may prevent proper brain growth and may damage memory function” (Minimum Drinking Age). By choosing to drink while under the age of 21, one is …show more content…
The poor choice of drinking all the time, could eventually lead to teens doing stupid things and making very poor choices when they are intoxicated. The first reason that the drinking age should not be lowered to 18 is because newly legal 18 year olds would provide alcohol for younger teens. Imagine if a friend just turned 18, all one has to do is ask them to buy alcohol. The friend will because he is a friend. He doesn’t need a bribe. He wants for you what he never had. “People who are newly legal often purchase alcohol for their underage friends. Surveys indicate that the most common source of alcohol for people aged eighteen to twenty is their friends who are aged twenty-one to twenty-four. Therefore, if the drinking age is lowered, an even younger segment of the population would gain easier access to alcohol” (Minimum Drinking Age). This new process would be a nightmare because the cops would arrest the underage drinker, for being caught while not of the legal age. In addition, cops would bust the legal buyer, for providing the alcohol to the underage drinkers. To add to that, teens would have a higher peer pressure exerted on them to drink. Say the legal age did change to 18, then teens would feel forced to drink by fear of not fitting in with others. “Many people fear rejection by their peers and give